The Cleveland Cavaliers threw last night’s NBA draft a kilter when they selected UNLV’s Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick. Bennett was considered a top six prospect was generally thought to be a top-six prospect and was thought to be going to Detroit with the eighth pick. Bennett has long ties with Cavs HC Mike Brown who returns to the fold after his sting with Cleveland during the Lebron years.

The top ten players taken in last night’s draft are as followed but their are several deal currently in the works including one between the Pelicans and 76ers involving Nerls Noel and Jrue Holiday.

The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a multi-payer blockbuster deal that involves Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. In the deal that cannot be officially announced until July 10th, the Nets will send Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Kris Humphries and three first round picks to Boston for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. The Nets starting lineup will now include KG, Pierce, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Will it be enough to derail the Heat, Bulls and Pacers ??? We’ll see.

No bail for Hernandez, eyed in additional double 2012 murder

Not surprisingly, Aaron Hernandez was denied bail yesterday. In a telling statement by the judge, she said the evidence against Hernandez while circumstantial, was overwhelming. In somewhat of a surprise, Hernandez is now being looked at for possible involvement in a 2012 Boston drive-by shooting that left two dead. You can read about those details here courtesy of NFL.com

MLB News and Notes

The strange saga of Alex Rodriguez continues. Two days after tweeting that he has been cleared to play in minor league rehab games, A-Rod is now saying that he doesn’t know when he will return. The Yankees can recover 80% of A-Rod’s salary through insurance if he does not play a game in 2013.

Former Philadelphia Phiilies catcher Darren Daulton will have surgery to remove two brain tumors. The 51-year-old Daulton played 14 years for the Phils before retiring in 1997 after winning a ring with the Florida Marlins. Daulton is currently a sports talk host in Philadelphia. Daulton was and is one tough SOB. God’s speed.

Tampa Bay buys out Lecavalier in cap move

The Tampa Bay Lightning will buy out the final seven years of captain Vinnie Lecavalier’s deal for $32 million in what is the most expensive cap compliance buyout in NHL history. The move will save the Bolts about $7 million per year on their cap but also means parting ways with the former No. 1 overall pick in 1998 and a career scorer of 383 goals to go with 491 assists in 1,037 games ….. all with the Lightning.

Landon Donovan back with national team after 11 month abscence

Three-time World Cup veteran Landon Donovan has been named to the 23-man roster for next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup ending an absence of nearly 11 months from the US men’s national team. The 31-year-old Donovan, the all-time US international goal scorer with 49 goals, has not played with national team since August 15, 2012 after taking a short blow.